Check-protector.



G. W. MAXWELL.

CHECK PROTECTOR. APPLICATION HLED MAR. a. 1916.

1,222,3 1 7., Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

WITNESS IN VENTOR.

i 2 60.65 w. MHXWELL H/5 A TTORNEYS.

"4E Nome/s PEYERS ca, PHOTO-LUNG \usmncm'v, u c

sierra s ra rns raarnnar ormcn.

GEORGE W. MAXWELL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY IIIESNE ASSIGN' MENTS, TO SECURITY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALL FORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

CHECK-PROTECTOR.

Application filed. March 8, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. MAXWELL, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Check-Protector, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to devices which are used for imprinting upon checks, drafts or other instruments, the amount thereof or an approximation thereto, in such manner that it cannot be raised or tampered with.

An object of the invention is to provide a cheap and simple check protector which is readily and quickly operable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a check protector which combines the selective and operative mechanism in one unit, so that it may be operated by one hand.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline in full that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one specific form of the device-of my invention, but it is understood that I do not limit myself to such form, as I may adopt many variations within the scope of my invention as set forth in the succeeding claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the check protector of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the device.

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on the line BB Fig. 2, parts of the platen carriage being broken away to disclose its construction.

Fig. 4 riage.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the carriage.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the check guide and holder, which forms part of the carriage.

The check protector comprises a suitable casing 2 in the bottom of which is secured a die plate 3, said plate having a plurality of impression surfaces 4: bearing the various data which it is desirable to impress upon the checks. In the present instance the is a top or plan view of the car- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

Serial No. 82,842.

leading impression surface bears the legend not over five dollars and the successive surfaces refer to progressively higher amounts, although the range of the apparatus may be varied to suit varied conditions. The dies are cut sharp and deep, so that when they are pressed against the check, they puncture the paper and thereby prevent erasures or changes. The die plate is of less width than the casing, so that channels are formed between the die plate and the casing side walls.

Arranged within the casing is a carriage 5, which is slidable over the die plate and which is provided with extended side walls 6 which fit into the channels and bear against the bottom of the casing. Resiliently mounted on the carriage by means of the transverse spring 7 is a platen which consists preferably of a strip of conformable material 8, such as rubber, secured in a metallic block 9. The block 9 is provided with a stem 12 which bears in the upper wall 13 of the carriage and through which the spring 7 passes. The front wall 14c of the carriage is provided with an aperture 15 in which engages the hook 16 forming part of the actuating lever 17. The lever bears against the upper end of the platen stem 12 and extends through a slot 18 in the upper wall of the casing, being formed round on its outer end so that it may be easily depressed. An car 19 on the lever extends through the slot and is provided with a projection 21 which prevents the lever from being removed from the slot. Along one side, the slot 18 is provided with a series of indentations 29., each numbered to correspond with an impression surface on the die plate, and formed on the lever is a curved car 23 which is adapted to enter an indentation and center the platen over the desired impression surface. The ear 23 is narrowed at its lower end and gradually increases in thickness, so that it may be readily pressed into the desired indentation and so that its movement thereinto will accurately center the platen.

Arranged in the carriage below the platen is a sheet metal guide and holder for the check 24. The guide and holder 25 is formed with a lip 26 which extends through a slot 27 in the side of the case, to indicate where the check is to be inserted. It is also formed with a cross strip 28 which supports the check above the die plate, so that only that portion of the check lying directly below the platen is pressed against the impression surface. The device is also formed with an overturned lip 29, which with the body, forms a channel into which the check is inserted. An ear 31 on the cross strip 28 limits the inward movement of the check to the proper position. The guide and holder seats in slots formed in the side walls of the carriage and is provided with a lip 32 hearing against the side wall and which is clamped into place by a screw 33.

V The dies are inked by a roller 34, supported in slots in the carriage and being pressed into contact with the dies by the springs35.

The actuating lever serves also as the selecting lever, so that the device may be set and operated by one hand, allowing the other hand to be used in placing the checks in the device, a feature which produces a considerable saving of time when many checks are to be protected.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a casing, a flat die plate arranged in the casing, a carriage movable over said die plate provided with a check guide eXtending through a slot in the side of the casing, a platen carried by said carriage and a lever engaging said platen and extending through a slot in the top of the casing.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing having a longitudinal slot therein provided with indentations along its edge, a die plate having a plurality of spaced impression surfaces corresponding to said i11- dentations arranged in the casing, a carriage movable over said die plate, a platen carried by the carriage, a lever engaging the platen and extending through said slot, and a projection on the lever adapted to enter said indentations to center the platen over a selectedimpression surface.

3. In a device of the character described, a casing, a die plate having a plurality of impression surfaces arranged in the casing, a carriage movable over the die plate, a platen carried by the carriage, said casing being provided with a slot having numbered indentations corresponding to the impression surfaces, a lever engaging the carria e andbearing against said platen and extending through said slot and a tapered projection on the lever adapted to enter said indentations.

4. In adevice of the character described, a casing having a slot provided with numbered indentations, a die plate provided with a plurality of impression surfaces corresponding to-said indentations arranged in said casing below said slot, a carriage movable over said die plate, a platen carried by the carriage, a handle for moving the carriage and depressing the platen projecting through said slot and means in said handle adapted to engage a selected indentation in said slot to center the platen over the corresponding impression surface.

5. In a device of the character described, a casing having a slot provided with indentations along its edge, a die plate provided with impression surfaces corresponding to said indentations arranged in" said casing, a carriage movable over said die plate, a platen carried by the carriage, means for moving the carriage and depressing the platen projecting through the slot, identifying characters arranged adjacent the said indentations and means on said carriage-moving means adapted to engage a selected indentation to position the platen over the corresponding impression surface.

6. I11 a device of the character described, a casing having a slot provided with indentations along its edge, a die plate provided with impression surfaces corresponding to said indentations arranged in said casing, a carriage movable over said die plate, a check guide and holder arranged on the carriage, a platen disposed above said guide and'holder and arranged to press the check against the die plate, unitary means for moving the carriage and depressing the platen projecting through the slot, identifying characters arranged adjacent the said indentations and means on said carriage-moving means adapted to engage a selected indentation to position the platen over the corresponding impression surface.

7. In a device of the character described, a casing having a slot provided with indentations along its edge, a die plate provided with impression surfaces corresponding to said indentations arranged in said casing, a carriage movable over said die plate, a check guide and holder arranged on the carriage, a platen disposed above said guide and holder and arranged to press the check against the die plate, unitary means for moving the carriage and depressing the platen projecting through the slot, identifying characters arranged adjacent the said indentations, means for inking the die plate, and means on said carriage-moving means adapted to engage a selected indentation to position the platen over the corresponding impression surface.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 2nd day of March, 1916.

GEORGE W. MAXWELL.

In presence of H. G. PRos'r;

I Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. i 

